What
is ImaBridge?
Inspired by a 2008 mission trip to their parish priest's native Nigeria, ImaBridge Africa Inc. was established as a philanthropic faith-based organization [501 (c)(3)] by a small group from DeKalb, Illinois. Through donated medical supplies and $6000 in scholarships for school fees raised by Newman Catholic Center students at Northern Illinois University, they were introduced to a number of rural villages in Akwa Ibom State in the South-East region. Though at times facing overwhelming poverty, the villagers greeted the group with a festival-like atmosphere: enchanting children, melodious songs of praise, exuberant dance and even the gift of a live baby goat.
This reflection of fun, love, brotherhood, and community put Nigerians at the top of Ode magazine’s 2007 "happiness" scale. But there was also the pain and suffering from being very poor with inadequate clean water and sanitation, a broken health care system, and incomplete access to education. Nigerians are among the world’s poorest billion people. Two of three people live on less than $1 a day. It is virtually impossible for them to create the changes they need on their own.
Latest Projects
We just recently concluded our annual ImaBrdige Africa fundrasier. We would like to thank all those who attended and generously contributed to the silent and live auction. May God continue to bless you and your family!
Click here to view some of the pictures from the fundraising event.